Department of Neurology

The National Capitol Consortium (NCC) Neurology Residency Program

Our program was formed in 1996 with the consolidation of separate residency programs in Neurology at National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) and Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC). In 2011 the two hospitals were consolidated on the Bethesda Campus. The NCC Neurology Residency is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. This residency program takes advantage of the large patient base and broad Neurology subspecialty expertise located within the National Capitol Area. The residency program also takes advantage of the close proximity of several distinguished institutions to including National Institutes of Health (NIH). Our goals are: 1) To offer residents training in Neurology second to none ensuring adequate preparation to pass board certification exams 2) To nurture a caring, compassionate attitude toward patient care 3) To prepare military officers to meet the challenging needs of military operational forces. Applicants for residency must be either currently on active duty in the United States military or about to come on active duty through programs such as the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). The residency is three years in length beginning with the PGY-2 year (year beginning after internship). In addition, the Army inputs 2 Neurology Interns each year. We typically take five residents per year group. Call during the PGY-2 year is typically one night in five in-house call. During the PGY-3 and 4 years, call is taken from home and is typically one night in ten.

National Capital Consortium (NCC) Child Neurology Residency Program

The NCC Child Neurology Residency Program is affiliated with the NCC
Neurology Residency Program at Walter Reed National Military Medical
Center (WRNMMC). Applicants for the program must be currently on
active duty in the United States military, or about to come on duty
through a program such as HPSP; applicants from all services are
eligible to apply, but selection depends on both the number of
applicants, and the needs of the applicants parent service (typically
one to two trainees are selected each year).

Training in child neurology may be accomplished by either of the
following: 5-year preselect pathway, in which the trainee completes 2
years of Pediatrics residency followed by the 3 year Child Neurology
training program (5 years total); traditional pathway, in which the
trainee completes a Pediatrics residency (3 years) followed by the
Child Neurology program (3 years) for a total of 6 years. Applicants
may also apply after completion of a Neurology residency (4 years),
and would then need to complete 2 years of Child Neurology and 2 years
of Pediatrics residency. Applicants may apply as 4th year medical
students to the 5-year preselect program, in which they apply to both
Pediatrics and Child Neurology; or if the applicant is currently
completing or has completed a Pediatrics (or Neurology) residency,
then he/she can apply directly to the Child Neurology residency
program.

During the 3 year Child Neurology residency, the curriculum is as
follows: 12 months of Adult Neurology (to include one month of
intensive care, and divided over the three years), 12 months of Child
Neurology (inpatient and outpatient), 1 month of child psychiatry, and
the rest as a variety of rotations such as: epilepsy, neuromuscular,
vascular, ophthalmology, movement disorders, genetics, development,
headache, and others. Six months of the training is done at Children's
National Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington, DC. Weekly half day
continuity clinic is maintained during the entire 3 years of Child
Neurology training. Another half day per week is devoted to didactics,
in addition to daily teaching conferences. Graduates of either the 5
or 6 year pathways are eligible for board certification in both
Neurology with special qualification in Child Neurology, and
Pediatrics.

Neurology Electives

The Neurology Department sponsors a number of elective rotations. Basic Science (Bench Research) is pursued by several members of the Staff. The subject matter depends on the current interests of the Staff member and the nature of the Grant financing the research. These change on a year to year basis. Similarly, electives can be arranged in such subspecialties as EEG and Epilepsy, Movement Disorders, EMG and Nerve and Muscle Disorders, Cognitive Neurology etc. Since these are also dependent on staffing, interested students should contact the Neurology Course Director (cgunderson@usuhs.edu) who can guide them to the appropriate staff member.